John and Sandra Fowkes gave a presentation on the 10 years of work they have been involved with in the Westlake Wetlands. It has been a community project by local residents, working with the City and Rhodes University. It is also a ZVT Task Team.

The hyacinth plants from the catchment double the growth in the warm summer months every 38 days we were told. The nutrient load in the catchment with the additional expansion and densification of the population in the southern suburbs over the last 20 years has compounded the issue. The plants can and do grow up to a metre high above the water, making it impossible for boating, fishing or any other use. The wild life including fish deminished in the water body as well. They have used an affordable cheap method of making booms with nets suspended across the waterbody with floats made from 2 litre cooldrink bottles. Sections are cleared between the booms, and rechecked on a weekly basis for regrowth or missed pieces of plant in the reeds.

Once the hyacinth was cleared there were explosions of other waterweed - parrots feather, kariba weed, water lettuce and pond weed (azolla).
Clifford Dorse when Manager at Zandvlei had a weevil introduced for hyacinth. It worked for about 3 years. Rhodes University staff introduced more weevils and other additional biocontrol methods - a moth etc. 
This has worked successfully.

A labourer / gardener / boatman is employed with sponsorship by Peninsula Beverages and has been trained to paddle, inspect and remove any growth in the boom areas. This has been the only method so far to keep the waterways free of the invasive plants. It requires this constant vigilance and diligence removing the small leaves, plants or regrowths all the time.

A comment from Sandra it is apparent they need to do a costing exercise on the sustainability of the project.

Sandra driving the laptop and John talking through the PowerPoint presentation. 
They alternated the speaking roll as they are both adept public speakers and both know the subject well.

Part of the audience of 30 members and friends.

The audience keenly listening the work the Lakesiders are doing to keep the invasives out of Zandvlei.

After the questions David Muller presented Sandra and John with the "traditional gift" from the members in appreciation of the work and the presentation.

Snacks and refreshments were served afterwards and it was time for discussion networking and making plans.

Jemma Wheatley talking to John.                                  Yvonne Bulgin and sandra in discussion.